Method of manufacturing composition toilet seats and similar articles



IAVMLSEO Nov. 20 1923` J. W. TALBOT METHOD OF MANUFACTURING COMPOSITION TOILET SEATS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES Filed Jan. '15. 1921 Patented Nov. 20, '1923. i'

invase@ n savant enterica.

JOHN W. TALBOT, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

METHOD 0F MANUFACTURING COMPOSITION TOILET SEATS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES.

Application led January) 13, 1.921. Serial No. 437,073.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that. l, JOHN W. TALBOT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chii cago, in the county of Cook and State of unglued, orl absorb mo`sture, one which will receive and hold screws by which the fixtures may be attached, and (ine which will be durable in use and attractive in appearance. i. i

Other objects and advantages of my method and an article produced in accordance therewith will be readily appreciated as the saune becomes better understood. by

reference to the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying' drawings: Referring to the drawings: Figi is a vertical sectional view through a mould, Iby means of which the material employed is subjected to the initial compression Fig. 2 is a similar View showing substantially the amount of compression to which the material is subjected in the initial compression operation;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 8*"-3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view showing the heated dies employed in the fina-l compression operation; and Fig. 5 is a plan view of a toilet seat produced by my improved method.

ln the manufacture of a composition toilet seat, in accordance with my invention,l

I contemplate the employment of paper pulp as the basis of the composition, and this pulp is admixed with and subjected to the action of certain substances which produce a binder throughout the article, serving to hold the fibres of the paper pulp together in a compact, homogeneous mass, While at the same time rendering thearticle waterproof and enabling the production thereon of a smooth, glossy, polished linish wh ch lends attraction to the appearance of the article.

While I am aware that resinous substances have heretofore been employed in the manufacture of composition articles of various kinds, these resinous materials have customarily been dissolved in a Suitable solvent, and in that condition intel-mixed with the material forming the basis of the article. The use of a solvent, however, possesses cert-ain disadvantages, among which may be mentioned the expense of the solvent, the fact that the solvent performs no function in thc completed article but must` be volatilized therefrom before the article is in'shed, thus adding to its cost, and if the solvent is not completely removed from the article before it is finished, it will eventually set up a decomposition in the article and will furthermore, produce injurious effects upon any finish which may be applied to the surface of the article. Y

My invention contemplates the' elimination ot' all of these objectionable features inherent in the use of a solvent, by employing the resinous binder in powdered form, which is thoroughly intermixed with the paper pulp, and thereafter at a subsequent stage in the manufacture, the partially-tinished article is subjected tothe action of heat sufiicient to melt the powdered resinous binder and cause it to tlow and thoroughly intermingle with and permeate the fibres of the paper pulp, thereby binding them together into a compact, homogeneous mass,

ity, said mass being substantially impervious to moisture, and because of the resinous binder, being capable of receiving a highly polished finish. j

rlhe resinous binder contemfplated by my invention is in itself a composition consisting of amixture of fatty acid pitch and a resinous substance, such as rosin, a resin gumi,

o1' for some purposes shellac or varnish rosin might be used, oras an alternative, an asphalt. derivative. While rosin alone might be employed, it does not give as satisfactory results as a composition of rosin or a resin gum mixed with a fatty acid pitch, which, when melted together, roduce a tough, brittle composition, capable of being readily and finel pulverized. After producing this compositlon by melting together a fatty which possesses great strength and durabilacid pitch, or a resin, or resin gum in substantially the proportions of one part of pitch to two of rosin, as a resin, the composition is thoroughly pulverized into a' fine powder. This resinous binder in-powdered form is then thoroughly mixed without a solvent with the proper proportions of pa` per pulp produced-'from waste paperthoroughly macerated and incorporated 1n an excess .of water. The vpowdered resinous Abinder is thoroughly mixed with the paper illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive of the stantially elliptical shape.

drawing, is shaped to produce a toilet seat, and comprises as shown, an open top chamber surrounded by an outer wall 5 of the desired contour and an inner wall 6 of sub-` Both the inner and outer walls are provided with a series of perforations 7, and the bottom 8 ofthe chamber. is also equipped with perforations 9. These perforations are for the purposeJ of permittin the escape of surplus water when the pu p is compressed in the mould, and. in order to prevent the pulp from entering the perforations and stoppingthem up, the walls of the chamber containing the pulp are preferably lined with a fine mesh wire screen, indicated by reference character 11.

The pulp mass is introduced into the chamber in the mould and there subjected to pressure produced by a downwardly moving die l2 carried upon suitable supports 13, which are forced downwardly -under hydraulic or other heavy pressure to compress the mass within the mould from the volume shownin Fig. 1 to substantially that shownin Fig. 2, wherein the compressed mass in the form of a roughly shapedarticle is indicated by reference character 14. The die 12 is also provided with perforations 10 to permit the escape vof surplus water, whichy is forced out of the pulp mass during its compression.

The initial compression of the pulp mass is performed without the application of heatthereto, and a pressurevof approximately 7 5 to 100 tons is exerted upon the mass during compression.4

The artially formed article 14 is then remove from the mould and first dried todispose of moisture still remaining therein, and after being dried, itis subjected to a high temperature, preferably in an oven, wherein the article is baked so that the resinous binder is melted under this high temperature and caused to `iiow so as to thoroughly permeate and impregnate the -interstices and fibres `of thearticle to bind and unite them into a substantially homogeneous mass. The' melting of the binder resulting in its thorough and uniform distribution throughout the article, serves not only to unite and bind together the fibres,

but also renders thearticle waterproof anal produces an exterior surface which can be smoothed and finished, as will be later explained.

After being subjected to this high temperature in the baking oven for the requisite length of time',thelpartially formed article is removed and subjected to a second compression operation while hot. The dies by which 4this final compression is performed are illuskeep the material being -operated upon in a heated and somwhat plastic condition during this final compression, botlfof the dies are kept hot in some suitable manner. In the presentinstance, I have shown the male die as provided with a hollow chamber 18 into which steam or lother hot fluid is introduced, and the die block 15 is seated upon a steam table or plate 19 to which steam is supplied through suitable connections 2l.

After being finally compressed to the desired dimensions under a pressure of approximately 100 tons, the article is removed and its surfaces are smoothed or finished by a hot tool which burnishes and polishes the surfaces of the seat. This tool may be of any preferred construction and is not shown on the drawings, but preferably, it consists of `a burnishing Wheel which is heated and maintained at a predetermined temperature so that `during its operation, the resinous binder at and near the surfaces is partially melted and is worked and distributed over the surfaces of the article to form a'smooth and glossy exterior.

The finished article is indicated by reference character 22 in Fig. 5 and because 0f its composition and structure, it is adapted to receive and hold screws or other fastening means by which the fixtures are customarily attached to the seat.l The seat may be used without further finishing, if desired, but

since it has become customary to have ,these` seats enameled in white, mahogany orotherl coloredy finishes, I prefer in most instances, l

to apply to the smooth surfaces of the seat finished` as before described, a coating of enamel of the desired color which may be baked thereon inthe usual manner. The

`characterand colorv of the finishing coat,

glued, as wooden seats are accustomed to do;

furthermore, that the'seat is impervious to moisture, is adapted to receive and main` tain the screws by which the fixtures are attached, that it is more durable than'a wooden seat, is not much if any heavier, and can be produced at practically one half the expense of a wooden seat. The method of producing such a seat will, it is believed, be understood from the foregoing without further description, but obviously, the method may be varied within considerable limits Without exceeding the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

l. The method of making composition toilet seats and similar articles, whichl consists in producing a paper pulp, thoroughly mixing therewith a resinous binder in powdered form, compressing the resultant pulp mixture in perforated moulds to extract the water therefrom, subjecting` the thus partially formed article to heat whereby the resinous binder is melted and caused to permeate the article, further compressing the article while hot to the desired dimensions, burnishing the surface thereof with a hot tool, and applying a coat of finishing material thereto. y

2. The method of making composition toilet seats and similar articles, which consists in mixing a resinous binder in powdered form with paper pulp, subjecting the pulp to pressure and heat to form an article and melt the binder therein, and burnishing the surface of said article with a hot tool.

3. The method of making composition toilet seats and similar articles, which consistsAv in mixing a resinousbinder in powdered form with a paper pulp, subjecting the mixture to an initial pressure to produce a partially formed article, melting the resinous binder incorporated in said article by subjecting the' same to heat, compressing said article while hot tothe desired dimensions, and finishing the surface thereof.

4. The method of making composition toilet seats and similar articles which consists in mixing a resinous binder in powdered form with paper pulp, initially compressing same into rough form, baking said partially formed article to melt the powdered binder, further compressing the article while hot to the desired dimensions, burnishing the surface thereof with a hot tool, and applying a finish to the burnished surface.

5. The method of making composition toilet seats and similar articles, which consists in melting together a fatty acid pitch and a resinous substance to produce a brittle composition, pulverizing said composition, mixing said pulverized compositionv in powdered form with paper pulp, compressing the resultant mixture into a roughly formed article, subjecting said article to heat to melt said powdered composition, compressing the article while hot to the desired dimensions, and finishing the surface thereof.

6. The method of making composition toilet seats and similar articles, which consists in melting together one part of a fatty acid pitch with two parts of a resinous substance, pulverizing the resultant composition, mixing said composition with paper pulp in substantially the proportions of two parts of pulp to one of composition, partially compressing the resultant mixture into an article of rough form, subjecting the article to heat whereby the resinous composition is melted and caused to permeate the article, subjecting the article while hot to final compression to produce an article of the desired dimensions, burnishing the surface of said article with a hot tool, and applying a finishing coat thereto.

JOHN W. TALBOT. 

